Sanju Samson was to play the T20 World Cup final.
Then, Skipper Rohit Sharma changed his mind.
In typical Rohit style, he then spent 10 minutes explaining to Sanju why he was being excluded from the playing eleven.
Images from Day 3 of the second Test between India and New Zealand at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune on Saturday.
At times, Rishabh Pant has confounded the Indian team with his brazen batting style but skipper Rohit Sharma on Monday said they are willing to accept the way he bats for his sheer ability to be a game-changer in matter of minutes.
IMAGES from Day 2 of the 1st Test played between India and New Zealand in Bengaluru, on Thursday.
'Even if we had won the New Zealand series 3-0, it would have meant little because the conditions in Australia are very different, and the team there is very different.' 'In Australia, you just go with a clean slate and start fresh. It doesn't matter what has happened on the previous page.'
Rajkumar Sharma, the childhood coach of India captain Virat Kohli asked wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant to be more careful while playing in T20s.
'Hardik is also a part of leading group. When we sit, we decide what we want to do in the game going forward and also on the field. He is always around. It's like we have a lot of captains on the ground.'
It is understood that a lot of focus was on how to build combinations for the World Cup.
Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram optimistic about India travelling to Pakistan for Champions Trophy.
A dominant Australia hammered India by 10 wickets in the day-night second Test on Sunday to level the five-match series 1-1.
Here's a glimpse of India's new faces and veterans sweating it out...
Pant showed his heroics with the bat once again and played a match-winning unbeaten 78 off just 27 balls for Delhi Capitals
India's batting is a major concern with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli struggling for runs ahead of the tour of Australia.
Former India all-rounder Suresh Raina feels middle-order batter Suryakumar Yadav will be sorely missed in the upcoming Champions Trophy, as he could have provided the 'X-factor' in Dubai, where Rohit Sharma's side will play all its matches.
The Indian players went through a gruelling training session ahead of the first Test against Bangladesh, starting next week.
Anushka Sharma, Sakshi Singh Dhoni cheered on their better halves from the stands along with other celebrities including IPL legend Chris Gayle.
No Shubhman Gill or Hardik Pandya either in Sanjay Manjrekar's T20 World Cup team.
Indian batters, with the exception of Yashasvi Jaiswal (84), faltered yet again to lose the match by 184 runs and trail 1-2 in the five-match series.
Virat Kohli, struggling for form, will be playing in Delhi's last league game against Railways at the Kotla from January 30.
In-form Karun Nair's career could see a resurrection.
Anil Kumble lauded skipper Rohit Sharma for his leadership in the longest format of the game, pointing out how the 'Hitman' has managed the youngsters in the team and has been "proactive" with his resources.
Ashwin acknowledged the emotional turmoil he was experiencing, despite his calm demeanour.
There was plenty of action over the last 12 months that kept the loyal Indian fan interested.
The complete list of players sold in the IPL 2025 Auction in Jeddah.
IMAGES from Day 3 of the third Test between India and New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday
The Prime Minister's XI team will be led by uncapped all-rounder Jack Edwards of New South Wales.
'We have waited for this moment for 13 years.'
Following his duck in the final, the 25-year-old received a ton of backlash from Indian cricket fans
Australia captain Pat Cummins said it is a "privilege" to have a bowler of Mitchell Starc's calibre at his disposal.
The good news is the team management has enough time on hand to think through the defeat and to find answers to the questions Adelaide has thrown up, around both its batting and bowling before the next test begins.
Jasprit Bumrah doesn't seem to be a long-term captaincy option given his nagging fitness concerns.
The Indian team will have a five-day training camp in Chennai ahead of the Test series.
Still baffled by the Nassau County ground's unpredictable pitch, India captain Rohit Sharma on Saturday said he has no idea what to expect from it in the T20 World Cup clash against Pakistan
The biggest positives with the bat in Perth were Virat Kohli regaining his rhythm and Jaiswal's coming of age hundred in his debut Test in Australia. Both will look to build on those significant gains in Adelaide.
Skipper Rohit Sharma said it was Virat Kohli's decision to bat in that position.
'But looking at what Virat and Rohit can deliver, I think they still have a lot of cricket and they're still world-class players and obviously any team would want to have both of them for as long as possible.'
India will be under tremendous pressure when they face an equally circumspect Australia in a battle of two out-of-form batting units in the opening Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Perth
Former India chief selector and current Punjab Kings spin bowling coach Sunil Joshi rates Jitesh Sharma among the best wicketkeeper-batters in the country and feels it is only a matter of time before he plays for the national team.
It was a stunning defeat for India, who were dismantled by eight wickets in seamer-friendly conditions in the opening match at Bengaluru, as they suffered their first series loss on home soil since falling to England in 2012.
India's dominant eight-wicket victory over Ireland in their T20 World Cup opener was overshadowed by a concerning injury to skipper Rohit Sharma
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